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Imagine That Movie Review Summary

Actors: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Imagine That


This is the story of a top financial executive coming to terms with a fantasy world of his daughter. Eddie Murphy plays the lead character of Evan Danielson. Evan is a very successful fund manager working for an investment brokerage. For more than 8 years, he has been the top performer in the brokerage firm. His rival is a newly hired American Indiam called Johnny Whitefeather (played by Thomas Haden Church). Although, Whitefeather has only been on the job for about 18 months, he has the unique way of using Native American symbolism which wows investors. Evan struggles to remain on top in light of this competition from Whitefeather.
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Evan has a daughter Olivia (played by Yara Shahidi). Olivia lives in an imaginary fantasy world of her own creation that is engaged by the use of her favorite blanket which she calls her “goo-gaa.” In this imaginary world live two people, Princesses Kupida and Mopida which give Olivia constant advice and support in everything she does. Evan discovers that this advice is a very accurate prediction of the future, so it gives him an enormous advantage in trading at his stock brokerage firm. He always knows the market moves before they happen by consulting with Princesses Kupida and Mopida.

To use the goo-gaa, Evan must accept the imaginary world and travel there to visit imaginary friends. Evan comes to rely on the help of the goo-gaa and his success at work increases. But then, he needs the goo-gaa on a weekend when Olivia is scheduled to be with a friend. Also this presentation for investors is on a day that Evan promised to see Olivia perform in the school play. So Evan has to decide between career and family.
Best part of story, including ending: This movie is interesting because it compares the value of family relations with the value of work. Family relations win the contest in the end.

Best scene in story: The best scene is when Evan discovers that the goo-gaa is useful in predicting the future. Because once Evan discovers this, he changes his attitude about being with his daughter very quickly.

Opinion about the main character: Evan is a greedy calculating jerk in the beginning of the movie. Evan softens over the course of the film and has more time for his daughter which is very nice.

The review of this Movie prepared by Willi Vision a Level 31 Creepy Stalker Barn Owl scholar

A stockbroker uses his daughter's magical blanket to try to get ahead in the world of finances. Evan is a stockbroker who spends all of his time working, causing him to neglect his daughter, Olivia. Evan is struggling as a father, because all she wants to do is play imaginary games, and she refuses to let go of Goo-Gaa, her favorite blanket. Meanwhile, work begins to be more stressful, as a man named Johnny Whitefeather begins taking his position as the favorite stockbroker in the company. One day, when Evan brings Olivia to work, she puts Goo-Gaa over her head and draws all over his papers-- much to Evan's surprise, her drawings indicate future successes and failures of companies. He begins to win back the favor of his bosses, so he decides to continue to use Goo-Gaa to try and predict the world of finances. However, in order to do so, Evan has to embrace his silly side, as Olivia first makes them run through a gauntlet of imaginary challenges, including singing, dancing, and talking to people who aren't there. When a high-ranking position opens up at his company, Evan becomes obsessed with beating Johnny Whitefeather and getting the job himself. In the process, however, he begins to neglect Olivia and grows only interested in what her blanket can do for him at work. When his final presentation is the same night as Olivia's play at school, Evan must decide what is more important to him: his relationship with his employers... or his relationship with his daughter.
Best part of story, including ending: It has bizarre stretches and some incredibly flat humor (far too much reliance on physical comedy), but overall a sweetness prevails.

Best scene in story: In the funniest scene, Bobb'e J. Thompson, the hilarious little kid actors from Role Models, is the only one who knows how Evan can find his daughter, and he tries to negotiate a bribe.

Opinion about the main character: Evan is a pretty stereotypical workaholic who learns the meaning of family-- there isn't really much nuance to either the character or the performance.

The review of this Movie prepared by R.W. Hainline a Level 29 Superb Fruit-Dove scholar

Script Analysis of Imagine That

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Plot & Themes

Comedy, primarily    -   Yes Time/era of movie:    -   2000's+ (present) Comedy or Parody about    -   living in dreamworld How much humor v. drama    -   Nearly all humor

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Profession/status:    -   business executive    -   trader Age:    -   20's-30's    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Black american Unusual characteristics:    -   Super genius

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Midwest City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   no torture/death Sex/nudity in movie?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only Any profanity?    -   None    -   Occasional swearing If this is a kid's movie...    -   Ages 5-10

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